Shloka 31
Draupadī-apaharaṇa-saṃdeśaḥ
Report of Draupadī’s Abduction and the Pāṇḍavas’ Pursuit
गतायामथ तस्यां तु राजा दुर्योधनस्तदा । स्वप्रभूतमिदं सर्वमचिन्तयत भारत
gatāyām atha tasyāṃ tu rājā duryodhanas tadā | svaprabhūtam idaṃ sarvam acintayat bhārata ||
அவள் சென்றபின், ஓ பாரத குலத்தோன்றலே, அப்போது அரசன் துரியோதனன் இவை அனைத்தையும் தன் அதிகாரத்தின் வெளிப்பாடாகவே எண்ணி சிந்தித்தான்.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how a ruler’s mind can interpret events through the lens of self-power (svaprabhūta), revealing pride and a tendency to prioritize dominance over dharma; it implicitly cautions that such self-centered calculation is ethically corrosive.
After a woman previously present has left, the narration notes Duryodhana’s immediate reaction: he mentally reviews the situation and frames it as evidence of his own strength and control, marking a shift from the event itself to his internal political-psychological response.